Returning To Earth Has Never Been So Beautiful

The three crew members of International Space Station Expedition 42 returned safely to Earth early in the morning of Thursday, March 12, after a 167-day mission. Their journey was stunning.

You can see the view they got in this graceful photo of the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft as it descended toward the silken clouds above the Kazakh steppes. The craft brought commander Barry Wilmore from NASA, and Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova of Roscosmos, safely home to Earth. [Bill Ingalls/NASA]